Bottom Line

Undoubtedly one of the most prestigious hotels in St. Barts, this exclusive 14-villa luxury resort with a Parisian flair sits amid 42 lush acres of natural hills and beachfront. The private villas are spacious and airy, each with its own infinity-edge pool. And the views here are jaw-dropping. The French restaurant is one of the island’s most renowned, one of the many reasons celebrities come here to relax. Rates are nothing to sneeze at, but you'll definitely receive the all-star treatment that should come with such a hefty price tag. THE HOTEL HAS RENOVATED SINCE OUR VISIT. WE WILL UPDATE OUR REVIEW AND PHOTOS AS SOON AS WE CAN.

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Oyster Hotel Photos

Oyster Hotel Review

Tucked high into 42 acres of verdant sloping hillside, lush tropical vegetation, and a rugged beach, Hotel Le Toiny is one of St. Barts’ most well-known spots. Those looking for pampering flock to this resort's 14 ocean-view villas, which have hosted the likes of Brad Pitt, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Jackie Kennedy Onassis.

En route to Le Toiny, your chauffer will drive you up and down steep rolling hills, winding toward the easternmost point of the island before turning onto a somewhat hidden drive. Check-in in the lobby is a casual yet personal affair, with refreshments served. After, you'll get a private tour of the hotel via golf cart. The main elements of the hotel are all located within a central locale: the main pool and deck, the French restaurant (among the island’s best cuisine), the fitness center (small but adequate), and the secluded spa cottage.

Since each of the 14 villas has its own infinity-edge pool, expansive deck, and kitchenette, many guests spend their days secluded, without ever emerging from their private sanctuary.

Somewhat disappointing, though, is Toiny Beach, which can be accessed via a 15-minute walk (or a five-minute drive down a newly constructed pathway). The surf is rough, depositing seaweed along the narrow, crescent-shaped shore. Simply put, it's just not that inviting.

On the southeastern end of the island, making for fabulous sunsets and privacy -- but not much nearby

The drive to Le Toiny is a roller coaster-like experience with narrow roads twisting and turning through the gently (and not-so-gently) sloping hills past Marigot and Grand Cul-de-sac beaches. The hotel itself is so discreetly nestled into the landscape above Toiny Beach that you’ll hardly notice anything at all before you reach the main entrance.

Privacy and seclusion are among the main selling points here, so don’t expect to go far on foot -- especially with the hilly terrain giving your legs a workout just to get to the main building. Fifteen minutes of walking (or, rather, hiking) will bring you to Toiny Beach, but otherwise, everything requires at least about 10 minutes in the car.

Hotel Le Toiny’s villas are, in a word, stunning. Sure, a hotel as nice as this is bound to have equally stellar rooms, but the villas here are quite possibly flawless. Each of the one-bedroom suites is a knockout with massive teak decks and private infinity-edge pools overlooking spectacular ocean vistas. Inside, villas are overtly spacious and feature tropical-wood floors, whitewashed walls, high ceilings, and mahogany furnishings.

In the bathrooms, you’ll find ornate hand-painted Italian tiles, luxurious L’Occitane toiletries, Villery & Boch soaking tubs, and lavender Frette robes. Throughout the rooms, little details add special touches: a lime and bartender’s kit sits on the counter, ready for cocktail hour, an iPod preloaded with everything from the Pixies to The Little Drummer Boy plays on a sound system in the living room, and bottles of water (free, of course) are set by the beds and sinks, reminding you that the island’s taps are not for drinking.